Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 118693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
The memory of the fear in Rory’s eyes when she had talked about being with a firefighter hit me full force. My feet suddenly felt like they were melted into the spot I was standing in. What in the hell was wrong with me?
“Ward? Finn!” Colton shouted. I shook my head to clear it. Realizing I was standing there like an idiot. “Yeah. Yeah, let’s do this.”
Walking out of the shower, I stopped and looked at Colton. He was standing there with his arms folded across his chest.
“What in the hell happened tonight, Ward?”
I knew what he was talking about but played dumb. “What do you mean?”
He shook his head. “When you froze walking into a damn burning building. Dude, you stood there for at least thirty seconds before I snapped you out of it.”
With a shrug, I replied, “Not sure, but it won’t happen again.”
I knew that not only did my life hang in the balance, but so did the lives of all my brothers. The last thing I would ever want to do is put them in danger.
“You’re damn right it won’t.” He stepped closer to me. “It’s Rory, isn’t it? Seeing her earlier today messed with your head. I saw you texting someone right before the tone went off. It was her…wasn’t it?”
My jaw clinched tight as I narrowed my eyes at him. Nothing ever distracted me on the job.
Nothing.
But today, it had. I’d been brought to a halt by the fear of a woman I hardly knew but whom I craved nonstop. And it wasn’t even to sleep with her. It was her touch. See her smile. The sound of her laugh that haunted my thoughts every fucking minute of the day.
Focusing back on Colton, I responded, “Fuck you, Harris. I haven’t been sleeping well with that damn dog. Hell, I couldn’t sleep before the tone went off, and who I was talking to is none of your damn business. It’s not like you’ve never froze up before. It was one moment—it won’t happen again.”
He stared at me, knowing the line of bullshit I was feeding him was far from the truth. “I sure as hell hope it won’t ever happen again. That one second might cost you your life, Finn. Or someone else’s.”
To celebrate Rory and I going out for a month, I made plans to take her on a canoe ride on the Charles River. Trying to coordinate when we were both off proved to be the hardest part of planning dates with Rory. This would be a late afternoon date.
We walked hand in hand up to the canoe rental while Rory told me about her day.
She stopped walking and turned to me. “A picnic and a canoe ride?” Rory asked with excitement in her voice.
“I told you we weren’t just going on a picnic. I had another surprise.”
Her smile made my knees wobble. “I love your surprises!”
After getting the canoe and helping Rory in, I handed her the basket, pushed off, and jumped in.
I started paddling and noticed how relaxed she was. Her head dropped back as the evening sun hit her face. “That feels so good.”
“Are you cold?” I asked.
Focusing her gaze on mine, she slowly shook her head. “No. Not at all.”
I picked up the pace some. Even though Rory had left work a bit early, the sun would still be going down on us quickly. I’d made arrangements with Chuck, the owner of the canoe rental, to pick us and the canoe up.
“Finn, this is so beautiful. It’s not often I get to experience such peace.”
“I’m glad it was a nice surprise for you.”
She pulled her legs in and rested her chin on her knees. “So, do you read romance books or something?”
Laughing, I shook my head. “No! Why would you ask that?”
“I don’t know. You’re so…romantic. I’ve never had a guy do the things you do for me.”
“That’s because you hadn’t met the right guy.”
Her brow lifted. “Are you the right guy?”
The corners of my mouth lifted. “I hope so, Éan.”
Her eyes lit up, and she was about to say something when her phone rang. Reaching for it, she sighed. “It’s my mother.”
“Hello?”
I managed to turn the canoe and head over to the area where Chuck told me he would pick us up, a small park tucked along the side of the Charles River.
“Sorry, Mom. I can’t do dinner tonight. I’ve made other plans.”
She frowned and pushed out an exasperated breath. “No, everything is fine. Listen, I have to run, I’m late. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Not saying a word, she put her phone on Silent and replaced it in her purse. Looking up, she gasped.
“Finn!” she said, pointing. “Is this where we’re eating?”
Glancing over my shoulder, I smiled. “Yep.”
It was perfect. Picnic tables were randomly placed throughout the park, but there wasn’t a single other person there. I hit the shore and jumped out, pulling the canoe up. Rory grabbed the basket, and I helped her out.